DePuy Hip Replacement Settlements

In November 2013, DePuy Orthopaedics agreed to pay $2.5 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits stemming from the ASR metal-on-metal hip recall. While the litigation involving an all-metal version of the DePuy Pinnacle hip has not produced any hip replacement settlements, a number of plaintiffs have been awarded significant financial damages at trial.

Attorneys Representing DePuy Hip Plaintiffs

The nationwide law firm of Bernstein Liebhard LLP has represented hundreds of hip implant recipients, including many who have participated in DePuy hip replacement settlements. If you or a loved one experienced premature device failure, metallosis or other complications due to an allegedly defective hip device, please contact our office today by calling (888) 994-5118.

DePuy ASR Hip Recall

The ASR hip system is a metal-on-metal hip replacement in which the ball and socket are constructed from a cobalt-chromium alloy. In August 2012, DePuy Orthopaedics announced a recall for its ASR hip line, after data from a registry in the U.K. suggested that 12% of the devices would fail within just five years of implantation. A hip implant is typically expected to last between 15 and 20 years. Complications potentially associated with an ASR hip replacement include:

  • Loosening of the hip implant
  • Metallosis (metal poisoning)
  • Pseudotumor formation
  • Cobalt or chromium poisoning
  • Bone fracture around the implant
  • Implant dislocation
  • Pain in the hip or groin
  • Need for revision surgery

DePuy ASR Hip Settlement

In November 2013, DePuy Orthopaedics announced a hip replacement settlement to resolve thousands of personal injury lawsuits involving its ASR devices. The agreement provides eligible plaintiffs a base award of $250,000. However, that award could be reduced or increased depending on a number of factors, such as prior medical history or the need for multiple revision surgeries. To be eligible to participate in the settlement, claimants must:

  • Have undergone initial implant surgery in a U.S. hospital or military hospital
  • Have had the implant for at least 180 days
  • Have undergone recall-related revision surgery on or before August 31, 2013
  • Be a citizen or legal resident of the U.S.

In February 2015, DePuy agreed to add $420 million to the ASR settlement. The expanded settlement would allow about 1,400 plaintiffs who had undergone revision surgery since August 2013 to participate in the program.

DePuy Pinnacle Litigation

While DePuy has never issued a recall for a metal-on-metal version of the Pinnacle Hip Replacement System, the company is facing thousands of lawsuits that allege the device suffers from some of the same issues that prompted DePuy to recall it ASR implants. Many of those cases were centralized in a multidistrict litigation now underway in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas.

The first federal Pinnacle trial ended in October 2014, with a verdict in favor DePuy. However, in March 2016, another Texas jury ordered the company to pay $502 million to a group of five Pinnacle recipients. The following December, six other plaintiffs were awarded more than $1 billion. However, the jury awards in both of these trials were later reduced to comply with limits on punitive damages.

Contact a Hip Replacement Attorney Today

Bernstein Liebhard LLP continues to provide free, no-obligation case reviews to individuals injured by allegedly defective hip implants. To learn more about DePuy hip replacement settlements and lawsuits, please contact our office by calling (888) 994-5118.

  1. New York Times (2013) “Johnson & Johnson in Deal to Settle Hip Implant Lawsuits” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/20/business/johnson-johnson-to-offer-2-5-billion-hip-device-settlement.html
  2. Bloomberg (2017) “J&J Judge Slashes $1 Billion Verdict Over Pinnacle Hip Implants” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-04/j-j-judge-slashes-1-billion-verdict-over-pinnacle-hip-implants
Last Modified: January 18, 2017

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